Metal body for vehicles



Oct- 120,*1925.

1,558,435v j P. E. BRENEMAN METAL BODY FOR VEHICLES Filed July 17, 1920 2 Shee'S-Sheet l l i?" N fav? Bre/76277072 Oct. 20, l925 P. E. BRENEMAN METAL BODY FOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1920 35u /Wlm @Wamego Patented oct. 2o, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL E. BRENEMAN, O'F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO C. R. WILSON BODY COM- PANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

METAL BODY FOB VEHICLES.4

Application med my 17, 1920. vsensu No. 396,836.

To all whom t may comm.'

Be it known that I, PAUL E. BRENEMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Bodies for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to metallic bodies for vehicles of the type in which the structural frame, as well as the panels of the body, is formed of metal. It is the object of the invention to simplify the construction and particularly to reduce the labor in assembly andthe welding or otherwise uniting of the various elements. It is a further vobject to build the body in a plurality of units which are'capable of being assembled with each other after the enameling step.

With these obieets in view lthe invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the body;

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is asimilar cross-section online 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4.- is a longitudinal section on line 4 4 of Figure 2 showing the manner of uniting the units;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

ln the construction of metallic bodies .it is the usual practice to form the elements thereof ot sheet metal stampings, which are then united to each other, and to the supporting frame by spot-welding or equivalent 40 means. The labor of assembling-and uniting these elements is a large factor in the cost of the structure and therefore, reduction in a number of elements and joints' or seams to be welded will correspondingly reduce the 4u total cost.- With the present invention I have devised a peculiar designin which a number ot' parts is reduced and where a few integral stampings take the place ot a-larger number in structures as heretofore designe-d. 5@ Also by forming the body in units, which may be united after the enarneliiulr process, the bodies may he more conveniently rhas the upturned portion I termmatin in shipped andcan be quickly assembled for delivery.

In detail, my improved construction comprises three units, viz, a tonneau unit A, a center and front' seat unit B, and a cowl unit C. Each of these units is formed `with a floor and sill member D having a channel portion E extending longitudinally above the chassis sills, a floor portion F extending outward therefrom and a flange G extending inward ina lower plane and constituting a support for the floor boards H. It is necessary in each of the units to form a threshold for the door opening and in each ofthe units A and B a seat support. These are formed integral with the member D and, as shown in Figure 2, the floor portion F 'l0 the outwardly-extending flange J, w ich underlaps an inwardly-extending flange K on Vthe outer panel L of the body. Also, the floor portion F in a diierent plane. as indicated in Figure 3. has the upwardly-extending portion I of greater height, with the laterally-extending seat-supporting portion Jiv terminating in a ange M, which is united to the outer anel L. Thus in one integral staming is ormed the floor F, the sill portion the threshold andthe seat sup ort. The lower edge of the outer panel F1 of the body is secured to the member D by an nturned channel member N. This is formed with its web portion N at an angle corresponding to that of the outer ariel, the parallel portions N2 and N3, the f ormer being united to the door portion l?. The anel L is also provided with an inturned ange L', which is united with the portion N3.

The construction of the cowl-unit C is the same as the units A and B, with the exception that the threshold portion is integral with a portion forming the toe hoard, both being integral with the sill poru tion D. rlhe outer panels of each ot the units are formed ot suitable stampings united to each other and to the elements already described, so as to make a rigid structure. Thus the center' unit B is provided vvith the tront seat bach P and with a door post portion Q, while the units A and `C are each provided with door post portions adjaoentto the deer openings..

The units constructed as described are adapted to abut against each other. To rigidly unite them, there are provided members R, preferably castings,which bridge the joint between the units and are fashioned to engage the channel member N and to extend inward therefrom to the sill member E. The portions of the unit overlapping this member R may be secured thereto by rivets S, while within the channel of thesill member E there is placed a reinforcing plate P through which certain of the rivets pass. As this riveting can be performed without injury to the enamel finish, it is obvious that the units maybe completed, including the enamel and the enameling, and then separately shipped to the point for iinal assembly.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A `metallic vehicle body comprising a plurality of units arranged in longitudinal series, each unit extending the full width of the body and having a sill portion, and means for uniting the sill portions of said units to rigidly attach the same independent of the chassis frame, forming composite sills extending substantially the full length' of the body. y

2. A metallic vehicle body comprising a plurality of units arranged in longitudinal series and abutting against each other, each unit extending the complete cross-section of the body and including a supporting sill portion, and a member bridging the joint between units in the sill portions thereof and rigidly uniting the same, and means rigidly securing said bridging member to each of the units which it joins.

3. in a metallic vehicle body, the combination with lthe outer panel having an inturned flange at the threshold of the door opening, and a member forming a sill for resting upon the sill of the chassis frame having an outwardly-extending floor portion and upturned portion, and an outturned dange for uniting with the inturned 'iiange of said threshold.

4. lln a metallic vehicle body, the com-l bination with the outer panel having an inturned flange at the door opening therein. of a member having a sill'portion arranged above the sill of the chassis frame, an outwardly extending door portion, an upturned portion and an' outturned flange uniting with the inturned flange of said outer panel.

:12in a metallic vehicle body, the combination with lthe outer panel having an inturned flange at the lower edge thereof and an inturned flange surrounding the door opening, of' a channelshaped member having its web portion conforming to the angle of said outer panel and lying adjacent thereto and its dange portions extending inward arallel to each other, the lower flange be lng attached to the lower flange of said outer panel, and a member having a channel-shaped sill portion arranged above the sill of the chassis frame, an outwardly eX-. tending floor portion uniting with the upper flange of said first-mentioned channel member, an upturned portion forming an inner panel of the body, and an outturned flange uniting with said inturned flange surrounding the door opening.

6. In a metallic vehicle body. the combination with the outer panel, having an inturned flange at its lower edge, of a channel member having its web portion conforming to the outer panel and provided with inwardly-extending parallel flanges, the lower flange being united to the inturned flange lof said panel member, and a member having a channel silll portion arranged above the chassis sill, an outwardly-extending ioor portion supported upon said first-mentioned channel member, an upturned portion forming an inner panel for the body with an outturned flanged portion, said upturned portion and flanged portion extending to form both the threshold of the door opening and the seat support.

7. A metallic vehicle body comprising a plurality of units arranged in longitudinal series and abutting, each unit comprising an outer panel and an integral stamping forming an inner panel, a threshold, a floor portion, and a sill portion extending above the chassis sill, and a member for connecting said units bridging the joint therebetween and attached to the floor and sill portion of said units.

8. In a metallic vehicle body, a member having a channel sill portion arranged above the chassis sill, an outwardly extending `floor port-ion, and an upturned portion forming an inner panel for the body and outwardly flanged to 'form a seat support.

9. A metallic vehicle body comprising a plurality of units arranged in longitudinal series and abutting against each other, each unit extending the complete cross section of the body and including a supporting sill portion, and a member bridging lthe joint between units in the sill portions thereof and rigidly uniting said units, said bridging member extending substantially the full width of the sills.

10. A metallic vehicle bodycomprising a plurality of units arranged in longitudinal series and abutting, each unit comprising an outer panel, a sill portion and a channel member connecting said panel and sill portion, and a member for connecting said units, bridging the joint therebetween, said member being arranged beneath the sill portions of the connected panels and fitting within said channel member.

ll. In a metallic vehicle body, the combination with a side panel of said body, of a sheet metal member having a seat supporre ing portion secured to said panel, an intermediate floor portion, and an inner portion forming a Hoor board support.

12. A metallic vehicle bod comprising a 5 plurality of units arranged 1n lon itudinal series and abutting against each ot er, each unit including a supporting sill portion having a relatively depressed inner portion and a bridging member connecting said `units disposed beneath the joints of the sills l0 thereof and formed with a depressed por-= tion engaging beneath said depressed inner portions of said units.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

PAUL E. BRENEMAN. 

